Balancing means for rotary structures



Feb. 27, 1951 J E, ELROD, JR 2,543,447

BALANCING MEANS FOR ROTARY STRUCTURES Filed March 2, 1949 Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UTED STATES -FFICE BALANCING MEANS FOR ROTARY STEUC TURES Joseph'EdgarElrod, Jr., Henderson, N. C.

Application March 2, 1949, Serial No. 79,245

4 Claims.

A primary object of the .invention is to provide dynamic balancing means for spinning cylinders or other rotary structures, which embodies a plurality of weights which are adjustable in circles whose centers are in the axis of rotation of the cylinder or other rotary structure.

A further and more specificaob'ject oi the invention is to provide dynamic balancing means for spinning cylinders which are .supportedat their ends by heads, including vertically disposed disk portions whose centers coincide with the axes of rotation of the cylinders, and wherein the balancing means are in the form of weights supported by the disks in equally spaced relation to the axes thereof and which areadjustable about said axes for dynamically balancin the cyl in ders.

A still further object or" the invention is toprovide dynamic balancingimeans forsp'inning cylinders, the heads of which embody cup-shapedbody portions for supporting opposite ends of the cylinders with the cnp-shaped body portions open at the opposite ends of the cylinders, and

wherein the balancing means comprise weights supported .by :the :body portions and which are readily adjustable from within the open ends thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved spinning cylinder head with a preferred form of balancin means operatively associated therewith, the head being shown .insupporting relation to one end of .a spinning cylinder.

Figure 2..is .an elevational view .as observed from theleftof the .head shown in Fig. .1.

Figure 3 is an elevational yiew, .onea somewhat reduced scale, as observed from the right .of the head shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view in the plane of line 4-4 .on Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of .a modified form .of cylinder head.

Figure 6 is an elevational viewsimilar to Fignre 2 showing a cylinder head of the form now .2 used but being provided with the improved "balancing means in slightly modified form.

Figure 7 is a broken side elevational view .of

.the cylinder headaccording to Figure 6, partly in :section.

:Figure. 8 is a substantially enlarged fragmental elevationalview showing the application of a calibrated scale in proximity to one of the adjustable balancing units;

Figure-9 is a verticalsectionalview inthe plane of line 3-9 on Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an end elevational'view of the weight shown in Figure .8.

Figure 11 is an edge view of the disk washer shown inFigure 8.

While the present invention is more particularly concerned with balancing means for spinning cylinders and other rotating bodies by means-of adjustable weights to be located as near as possible to the ends of the cylinders or other rotating bodies, it embodies also an improved form .of spinning cylinder head per se.

The heads as now constructed embody an elongated cylindrical hub and a cup-shaped body portionincluding an end wall of disk form which projects from the hub adjacent one end thereof anda cylindrical flange concentric with the hub and projecting from the margin of said end wall in the direction of said one end of the hub.

This structure is shown in Figures 6 and 7, wherein the successive elements referred to are designated l6, l4 and I2, respectively.

:This head is now constructed by a casting operation which requires costly machining operationswhich, with the cost of the casting operation, renders the head substantially expensive in its construction.

'In accordance with the present invention, the cup-shaped body portion H of the head I0 is formed-by a stamping operation, and such portion includes a cylindrical flange l2 having a free edge provided with acylinder end-engageable flange 13. The flange ii at its opposite edge merges into an end wall M of disk form.

The hub .embodiesa casting includinga relatively short cylindrical end portion .iExand a:relativel-y long cylindrical portion .5 6 disposed on opposi-te sides of a flange ii which is provided with apertures for receiving rivets l8.

While the hub according to the present invention is formed by a casting operation, its form is such that its production by this method is relatively simple and inexpensive. The hub is readily associated with the stamped .body'portion by inserting the hub end l5 through an opening in the 3 wall I4 and then inserting the rivets l8 through alined apertures in the wall l4 and flange l1 and then heading the rivets for firmly connecting the hub and stamped body portion.

The hub, in keeping with the usual form as shown in Figures 6 and '7, is provided with one or two longitudinal slots H and the hub is frictionally secured to a spinning cylinder shaft, as by means of the member l9.

While the spinning cylinder structure, generally, forms no part of the present invention, it may be here stated that a head Ill is secured in each end of the cylinder C (only a portion of which is shown in Fig. 1) and a shaft is secured in the hub of each head, which shafts project axially from opposite ends of the cylinder and are supported by bearings on trackways therefor.

The improved balancing means in accordance with the present invention includes the provision of a plurality of slot (preferably three) in the wall it of the cylinder head, and such slots are disposed concentrically of the hub and are of substantial circumferential extent.

A weight 2| is adjustably supported on the wall :4 within the range of each slot 20 and is provided with a tapped bore 2| for receiving the shank of a bolt 22 which extends through the slot 2E. A disk form washer 23 and a split locking washer 24 (see Figure 8) are disposed intermediate the wall M and the head of the bolt 22 with the disk washer directly engaging the wall M in opposition to the weight 2|.

With this construction, the spinning cylinder which is provided with these heads is more accurately balanced in association with a dynamic balancing machine by adjusting in each head one or more of the weights 2| as is indicated to be necessary by the balancing machine, and thereby properly distributing the rotating mass relative to the axis of rotation.

It is to be noted that while the weights 2| are disposed behind the walls l6, the bolts 22 are readily accessible from the open ends of the cupshaped body portions for ready access thereto.

The weights 2| are shown as of substantially semi-spherical form, but same may be of various other forms as well as of other sizes, and the weights may be of any desired material.

It is to be further noted that in forming the cup-shaped body portions H by a stamping operation, relatively light gauge sheet material may be used, and in order to reinforce the wall portions ls, same may be provided with pressed-out ribs 25 or other deformations which extend from the hub-receiving opening to adjacent the flange l2, and such ribs or other deformations are disposed between the adjacent ends of the slots 20. The formation of these ribs can be formed with facility in a stamping operation.

In Figures 6 and 7 the improved balancing means is shown in operative association with a spinning cylinder head of the present cast iron form and wherein the wall 14' is provided with the slots 20. The weights 2 l shown in Figures 6 and 7 are of block-like form, but the weights 2| may be used if desired.

In the use of the block-like form of weight 2 I, which may be desirable in many instances, means is provided to maintain same in proper position relative to the axis of rotation of the head, and it is desirable that scales be provided adjacent each of the weights, in which event the disk-form washer will be provided with a pointer, and accordingly the washer should be retained against rotation on its axis.

The purpose of the calibrated scale is to enable the operator of the balancing machine to have a reference as to how far to shift the weights and to aid him in obtaining a very fine adjustment. Thus, after practice, the operator knows by the reading given by the machine how many calibrations to shift the weights. In fact, it is possible to furnish him with a table to refer to for each diameter body.

The calibrated scale is, of course, applicable and desirable with the forms of weights shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive.

In Figures 8 to 19, inclusive, is shown an embodiment which may replace that of Figures 1 to 4 or 6 and '7, and wherein the washer 23 is provided with ears 26 which rest in the slot 20, and the washer is provided with a pointer 2'5 for co operation with a calibrated scale 28 on the wall M.

The weight 2| due to its non-symmetrical form relative to the axis of bolt 22, should be retained in permanent fixed relation relative to the axis of rotation of the head, and accordingly such weight is provided with a pair of lugs 29 which rest in the slot 29. However, it is essential that the weights of Whatever form be positively retained against rotation about the axes of their retaining means and which is effected by the washers 23 and 24 in Figures 1 to 5, 8 and 9.

The scale 28 may be formed by any suitable means and b its provision greater accuracy of adjustment is attainable.

In Figure 5 is shown a modified form of head wherein a pair of cup-shaped body portions II and I! is provided with their walls in juxtaposition and the flange 53 eliminated from the portion N. This form of head provides for greater surface engagement of the cylinder and therewith which may be desired on larger diameter cylinders.

While I have disclosed my invention in accordance with certain specific structural embodiments thereof, such is to be considered as illustrative only, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the following claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. Dynamic balancing means for a rotatable body including a wall portion having an axis of rotation, said means comprising an elongated curved slot in said wall portion concentric with said axis of rotation and having parallel opposed walls, a weight of elongated form in the direction of said slot disposed adjacent one side of said wall portion and having a threaded recess therein intermediate the ends thereof, a bolt including a tool-engageable head and a threaded shank, the shank only of said bolt extending through said slot and having threaded connection with said recess in said weight, the head of said bolt being disposed adjacent the opposite side of said wall portion for tool engagement thereof to draw the weight into frictional engagement with said wall portion and. for releasing same for adjustment lengthwise of said slot, and a lug projecting from said weight at each side of said recess and being engageable in said slot for restraining said weight against rotation about the axis of said bolt.

2. The structure according to claim 1, together with a disk-form washer on said bolt and disposed between said wall portion and the head of said bolt, a scale on said wall portion adjacent to and lengthwise of said slot, and a pointer on said washer directed toward said scale.

- 3. The structure according to claim 2, together 5 with a pair of ears on said washer engageable in said slot.

4. Dynamic balancing means for a rotatable body including a wall portion having an axis of rotation; said means comprising an elongated curved slot in said Wall portion concentric with said axis of rotation and having parallel opposed walls, a weight disposed adjacent one side only of the wall portion and having a threaded recess therein, and a bolt including a tool-engageable head and a threaded shank, the shank only extending through said slot and having threaded connection with said recess in said Weight, the head of said bolt being disposed adjacent the opposite side of said wall portion for tool engagement thereof to draw the Weight into frictional engagement with said wall portion and for releasing same for adjustrnznt lengthwise of the slot, said weight including a relatively large area flat wall engageable with said wall portion, and a projection from said wall and in spaced relation to said recess, said projection being engageable in said slot for retaining said weight against rotation about the axis of said bolt.

JOSEPH EDGAR ELROD, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

